Medicine Notes - Clinical Examination - Radial Nerve Palsy

Radial Nerve Palsy

The causes of radial nerve palsy are fracture / repair of the fracture of the humerus or injury/ trauma to the radial nerve which winds around the spiral groove of the humerus. Radial nerve may present with wrist drop as the diagram on the left shown.

Radial nerve palsy may present with decreased in finger extension and decreased in wrist extension.Patient may also complain of reduced sensation over the thumb or the dorsal area between the thumb and the first finger.

Radial nerve palsy will be improved by splinting of the wrist in a neutral position.